Tech Toys: BlackBerry Q10 now available for pre-orders in Canada

Gillian Shaw, Vancouver Sun04.30.2013

The SparkD is a new high quality microphone for the iPad. It can also be used for recording on a home computer.

The BlackBerry Q10 smartphone is shown in a handout image. Canadian wireless carriers have begun taking orders for the BlackBerry Q10 smartphone, a new model with a physical keyboard. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, BlackBerry ORG XMIT: CPT104HO
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

In the rush that saw BlackBerry sell one million of its new Z10 smartphones in a month, a number of BlackBerry fans stayed on the sidelines awaiting the promised QWERTY keyboard version of the BlackBerry 10 — the Q10. Their wait has been rewarded with the announcement of pre-orders that have started for the new Q10 with its release expected April 29. You can pre-order the Q10, which starts at $199 with a three-year wireless contract, from Telus, Rogers, Fido, Future Shop and Best Buy. Future Shop and Best Buy are taking pre-orders with a $50 deposit with service on the Bell, Rogers, Telus and Virgin Mobile Canada networks. Telus is offering the Q10 with no contract for $700, while Rogers and Fido are listing it at $650 with month-to-month service. While the Z10 only has an onscreen keyboard, like its competition Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy flagship phones, the new Q10 combines both a touch screen and the physical keyboard. It delivers all the features of the new BlackBerry 10 platform, including the ability to switch between work and personal modes, keeping the two separate and allowing corporate security departments to control the work side without accessing personal data. The BlackBerry 10 also has an enhanced camera with features like a time shift that lets you choose the best photo from a series of views — so no one has to be blinking in your photos anymore. You also get video connectivity added to BlackBerry messaging and BlackBerry’s Hub that organizes everything from your calendar to your social networks. Competition in the premium smartphone market is heating up with this release that comes just weeks after Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S4, which is expected to be released soon. There have been no announcements from Apple on a possible successor to the iPhone 5 but Topeka analyst Brian White said this week that he expects the iPhone 5S will be released this summer with two or three different screen sizes. White attributed his prediction to information from a tech supply chain company. www.blackberry.com.

Spark Digital, Blue Microphones, $200

A studio mic for the iPad, Spark Digital is Blue Microphone’s digital version of its analog Spark mic. Promising professional audio recording for the iPad it also connects via USB to your desktop or laptop computer, giving you a portable way to record high fidelity sound whether you’re podcasting or recording vocals or instruments. Note though that the Spark Digital has the 30-pin connector of the earlier iPhones and iPads. If you want to connect it to a fourth generation iPad or the iPad mini or the iPhone 5, you’ll have to shell out another $35 for Apple’s Lightning to 30-pin Adapter. The Spark Digital has controls right on the mic, including instant mute, volume and gain control and it offers a zero-latency headphone jack for direct monitoring. It comes with an adjustable desk stand and y-cables for USB, 30-pin and headphones. www.bluemic.com

Golf Sense, Zepp Technology, $130

If you’re planning on improving your golf swing this season, check out Golf Sense, a device that attaches to your golf glove and records and analyzes data on your Apple iOS or Android mobile device. A motion sensor transmits data via Bluetooth to your smartphone or tablet computer, giving you a 3D analysis of acceleration, velocity, tempo and position. www.golfsense.me.

A Radio-Canada reporter has been arrested for alleged criminal harassment while pursuing the subject of a story. According to Radio-Canada, reporter Antoine Trépanier was arrested Tuesday night by Gatineau police. He was released on a promise to appear in court. Trépanier was called by Gatineau police Tuesday evening and an officer requested that he come […]

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